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Ewers commits long-term future to Exeter

Dave Ewers is targeting exciting times ahead after he became the latest Exeter player to commit his long-term future to the Chiefs.

With the 24-year-old’s current contract set to expire at the end of this season, head coach Rob Baxter has moved swiftly to tie down the imposing back-row forward.

A product of the club’s highly successful Academy system, Ewers has over time established himself as one of the most destructive forwards in the Aviva Premiership, forging a terrific working partnership alongside experienced No.8 Thomas Waldrom.

Following the lead of club captain Jack Yeandle, who himself penned a new two-year contract extension last week, Ewers admits it’s great to have his future done and dusted so swiftly.

“It was an easy decision to make,” said the Harare-born player. “I’ve been at Chiefs all my career and it’s effectively my home now.

"I am very happy here, playing with a great group of guys and working with a very solid coaching set-up.

“Coming through with the likes of Nowellsy, Sladey, Dickie and Hilly, it’s definitely helped me a lot and we’ve experienced so much together.

"Obviously I’m a few years older than them, but we’ve all made that breakthrough roughly around the same time and it’s been great to be part of what have been some very exciting times at the club.”

Having concluded his contract talks so quickly with Baxter, Ewers is now fully focused on the 2015/16 season and helping the Chiefs to push forward both in the Premiership and the Champions Cup.

“Signing now means I can focus solely on my rugby and what we do here week by week,” continued Ewers.

“This season has been a bit different because of the World Cup lay-out, but it’s going to be a big year for all of us, so to know everything is sorted nice and early means I can concentrate on my game and nothing else.”

And having been part of an ever-improving Exeter squad, Ewers believes the future for the Devon club is certainly a bright one He added: “The club have achieved a huge amount over the last few years, especially since coming into the Premiership.

"However, I think there is still a lot more to come from us.

“We’ve set ourselves up now to take that next step. We’re a pretty hungry group of players and individuals, who all want to keep improving and get better, so the next step has to be to try and get into the play-offs and be competing for honours at the end of the season.”

As well as club honours, though, Ewers himself is keen to develop his own career, particularly on the international scene, where he has previously featured for England Saxons.

“I would love to break into the England set-up, but I know to stand any chance I have to be playing well here and doing well for the Chiefs,” he added.

“As long as I concentrate on what I do here, then hopefully things will take care of themselves in the future.”

Understandably, Baxter is overjoyed to lock down the future of Ewers, who last season was named the club’s Player of the Year and also made it into the Premiership Dream Team following some destructive on-field displays.

His impressive performances not only earned him rave reviews here at the Chiefs, but further afield he was called up to play for the England Saxons and was unlucky to narrowly miss out on Stuart Lancaster’s Rugby World Cup training squad.

“There is no doubt Dave is one of the best young back-row forwards in the country,” said Baxter.

“I think in many people’s opinion he was unlucky not to be in or around that World Cup group come the end of the season.

“If Dave continues to improve in the way that he is and plays in the manner that he plays and does things as well as he does – particularly if we show success as a side – then I am sure that international recognition is just around the corner for him.

“That will be down to Dave working hard and being consistent, and it will also be down to the team and the club performing well and staying at the right end of the table.

I’ve said many times that individual success often follows team success, and that is the goal for us as a team and many of the individuals here too.”